Paris  Covenant 

FOR  A 

\  LEAGUED 
NATIONS 

Text  of  the  Plan  adopted  by  the 
Paris  Peace  Conference 
April  28 ,19 19. 


A  Charter  for  World  Democracy 

Framed  by  the  representatives  of 
the  victorious,  free  nations 

Extending  to  all  the  World  the 
principles  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  and  the  Monroe 
Doctrine. 


Published  by 

TO  ENFORCE  PEACE 

BUSH  TERMINAL  SALES  BTJILDIKQ 

130  WEST  42n  STREEI 

NEW  YORK 


Division  of  Foreign  Intelligence, 
Department  of  State. 

The  following  is  the  text  of  the  Covenant 
of  the  League  of  Nations  as  presented  to  the 
olenary  session  of  the  Peace  Conference: 

The  Covenant  of  the 

League  of  Nations 

PREAMBLE 

In  order  to  promote  international  co-op- 
eration and  to  achieve  international  peace 
and  security,  by  the  acceptance  of  obliga- 
tons  not  to  resort  to  war,  by  the  prescrip- 
tion of  open,  just  and  honorable  relation? 
between  nations,  by  the  firm  establishment 
of  the  understandings  of  international  law 
as  to  actual  rule  of  conduct  among  Govern- 
ments, and  by  the  maintenance  of  justice 
and  a  scrupulous  respect  for  all  treaty  obli 
gations  in  the  dealings  of  organized  peoples 
with  one  another,  the  high  contracting  par- 
ties agree  to  this  covenant  of  the  League 
of  Nations. 

ARTICLE  I 

The  original  members  of  the  League  of 
Nations  shall  be  those  of  the  signatories 
which  are  named  in  the  annex  to  this  coven- 
ant and  also  such  of  those  other  states 
named  in  the  annex  as  shall  accede  without 
reservation  to  this  covenant.  Such  acces- 
sions shall  be  effected  by  a  declaration  de- 
posited with  the  Secretariat  within  two 
months  of  the  coming  into  force  of  the  cov- 
enant. Notice  thereof  shall  be  sent  to  all 
other  members  of  the  league. 

Any  fully  self-governing  state,  dominion 
or  colony  not  named  in  the  annex  may  be- 
come a  member  of  the  league  if  its  admis- 
sion is  agreed  to  by  two-thirds  of  the  assem- 
bly, provided  that  it  shall  give  effective  guar- 
antees of  its  sincere  intention  to  observe  its 
international  obligations  and  shall  accept 
such  regulations  as  may  be  prescribed  by 
the  league  in  regard  to  its  military  and 
naval  forces  and  armaments. 

Any  member  of  the  league  may,  after  two 
years'  notice  of  its  intention  so  to  do,  with- 


draw  from  the  league,  provided  that  all  ita 
international  obligations  and  all  its  obliga- 
tions under  this  covenant  shall  have  been 
fulfilled  at  the  time  of  its  withdrawal. 

ARTICLE  II 

The  action  of  the  league  under  this  cov- 
enant shall  be  effected  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  an  Assembly  and  of  a  Council, 
with  a  permanent  Secretariat. 

ARTICLE  III 

The  Assembly  shall  consist  of  represen- 
tatives of  the  members  of  the  league. 

The  Assembly  shall  meet  at  stated  inter- 
vals, and  from  time  to  time  as  occasion 
may  require,  at  the  seat  of  the  league,  or  at 
such  other  place  as  may  be  decided  upon. 

The  Assembly  may  deal  at  its  meetings 
with  any  matter  within  the  sphere  of  action 
of  the  league  or  affecting  the  peace  of  the 
world. 

At  meetings  of  the  Assembly  each  mem- 
ber of  the  league  shall  have  one  vote,  and 
may  have  not  more  than  three  representa- 
tives. 

ARTICLE  IV 

The  Council  shall  consist  of  representa- 
tives of  the  United  States  of  America,  of 
the  British  Empire,  of  France,  of  Italy,  and 
of  Japan,  together  with  representatives  of 
four  other  members  of  the  league.  These 
four  members  of  the  league  shall  be  selected 
by  the  Assembly  from  time  to  time  in  its 
discretion.  Until  the  appointment  of  the  rep- 
resentatives of  the  four  members  of  the 
league  first  selected  by  the  Assembly,  rep- 
resentatives of  Belgium,  Brazil,  Greece  and 
Spain  shall  be  members  of  the  Council. 

With  the  approval  of  the  majority  of  the 
Assembly,  the  Council  may  name  additional 
members  of  the  league,  whose  representa- 
tives shall  always  be  members  of  the  Coun- 
cil ;  the  Council  with  like  approval  may 
increase  the  number  of  members  of  the 
league  to  be  selected  by  the  Assembly  for 
representation  on  the  Council. 

The  Council  shall  meet  from  time  to  time 
as  occasion  may  require,  and  at  least  once 
a  year,  at  the  seat  of  the  league,  or  at  such 
other  place  as  may  be  decided  upon. 


The  Council  may  deal  at  its  meetings  with 
any  matter  within  the  sphere  of  action  of 
the  league  or  affecting  the  peace  of  the 
world. 

Any  member  of  the  league  not  represented 
on  the  Council  shall  be  invited  to  send  a 
representative  to  sit  as  a  member  at  any 
meeting  of  the  Council  during  the  considera- 
tion of  matters  specially  affecting  the  inter- 
ests of  that  member  of  the  league. 

At  meetings  of  the  Council,  each  member 
of  the  league  represented  on  the  Council 
shall  have  one  vote,  and  may  have  not  more 
than  one  representative. 

ARTICLE  V 

Except  where  otherwise  expressly  provi- 
ded in  this  covenant,  or  by  the  terms  of  this 
treaty,  decisions  at  any  meeting  of  the  As- 
sembly or  of  the  Council  shall  require  the 
agreement  of  all  the  members  of  the  league 
represented  at  the  meeting. 

All  matters  of  procedure  at  meetings  of 
the  Assembly  or  the  Council,  the  appoint- 
ment of  committees  to  investigate  particular 
matters,  shall  be  regulated  by  the  Assembly 
or  by  the  Council  and  may  be  decided  by 
a  majority  of  the  members  of  the  league 
represented  at  the  meeting. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Assembly  and 
the  first  meeting  of  the  Council  shall  be 
summoned  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States  of  America. 

ARTICLE  VI 

The  permanent  Secretariat  shall  be  estab- 
lished at  the  seat  of  the  league.  The  Sec- 
retariat shall  comprise  a  Secretary  General 
and  such  secretaries  and  staff  as  may  be 
required. 

The  first  Secretary  General  shall  be  the 
person  named  in  the  annex;  thereafter  the 
Secretary  General  shall  be  appointed  by  the 
Council  with  the  approval  of  the  majority 
of  the  Assembly. 

The  secretaries  and  the  staff  of  the  Sec- 
retariat shall  be  appointed  by  the  Secretary 
General  with  the  approval  of  the  Council. 

The  Secretary  General  shall  act  in  that 
capacity  at  all  meetings  of  the  Assembly  and 
of  the  Council. 

The  expenses  of  the  Secretariat  shall  be 
borne  by  the  members  of  the  league  in  ac- 


eordance  with  the  apportionment  of  the  ex- 
penses of  the  International  Bureau  of  the 
Universal  Postal  Union. 


ARTICLE  VII 

The  seat  of  the  league  is  established  at 
Geneva. 

The  Council  may  at  any  time  decide  that 
the  seat  of  the  league  shall  be  established 
elsewhere. 

All  positions  under  or  in  connection  with 
the  league,  including  the  Secretariat,  shall 
be  open  equally  to  men  and  women. 

Representatives  ot  the  members  of  the 
league  and  officials  of  the  league  when  en- 
gaged on  the  business  of  the  league  shall 
enjoy  diplomatic  privileges  and  immunities 

The  buildings  and  other  property  occu 
pied  by  the  league  or  its  officers  or  by  rep- 
resentatives attending  its  meetings  shall  bf 
inviolable. 

ARTICLE  VIII 

The  members  of  the  league  recognize  that 
the  maintenance  of  a  peace  requires  the  re- 
duction of  national  armaments  to  the  lowest 
point  consistent  with  national  safety  and 
the  enforcement  by  common  action  of  inter- 
national obligations. 

The  Council,  taking  account  of  the  geo- 
graphical situation  and  circumstances  of 
each  state,  shall  formulate  plans  for  such 
reduction  for  the  consideration  and  action 
of  the  several  Governments. 

Such  plans  shall  be  subject  to  reconsid- 
eration and  revision  at  least  every  ten  years. 

After  these  plans  shall  have  been  adopted 
by  the  several  Governments,  limits  of  arma- 
ments therein  fixed  shall  not  be  exceeded 
without  the  concurrence  of  the  Council. 

The  members  of  the  league  agree  that 
the  manufacture  by  private  enterprise  of 
munitions  and  implements  of  war  is  open 
to  grave  objections.  The  Council  shall  ad- 
vise how  the  evil  effects  attendant  upon  such 
manufacture  can  be  prevented,  due  regard 
being  had  to  the  necessities  of  those  mem- 
bers of  the  league  which  are  not  able  to 
manufacture  the  munitions  and  implements 
of  war  necessary  for  their  safety. 

The  members  of  the  league  undertake  to 
interchange  full  and  frank  information  as  to 
the  scale  of  their  armaments,  their  military 


and  naval  programmes  and  the  condition  of 
such  of  their  industries  as  are  adaptable  to 
warlike  purposes. 

ARTICLE  IX 

A  permanent  commission  shall  be  consti- 
tuted to  advise  the  Council  on  the  execu- 
tion of  the  provisions  of  Articles  I  and  VIIT 
and  on  military  and  naval  questions  gen- 
erally. 

ARTICLE  X 

The  members  of  the  league  undertake  to 
respect  and  preserve  as  against  external  ag- 
gression the  territorial  integrity  and  existing 
political  independence  of  all  members  of  the 
league.  In  case  of  any  such  aggression  or 
in  case  of  any  threat  or  danger  of  such 
aggression,  the  Council  shall  advise  upon 
the  means  by  which  this  obligation  shall  be 
fulfilled. 

ARTICLE  XI 

Any  war  or  threat  of  war,  whether  im- 
mediately affecting  any  of  the  members  of 
the  league  or  not,  is  hereby  declared  a  mat- 
ter of  concern  to  the  whole  league,  and  the 
league  shall  take  any  action  that  may  be 
deemed  wise  and  effectual  to  safeguard  the 
peace  of  nations.  In  case  any  such  emer- 
gency should  arise,  the  Secretary  General 
shall,  on  the  request  of  any  member  of  the 
league,  forthwith  summon  a  meeting  of  the 
Council. 

It  is  also  declared  to  be  the  fundamental 
right  of  each  member  of  the  league  to  bring 
to  the  attention  of  the  Assembly  or  of  the 
Council  any  circumstance  whatever  affecting 
international  relations  which  threatens  to 
disturb  either  the  peace  or  the  good  under- 
standing between  nations  upon  which  peacf 
depends. 

ARTICLE  XII 

The  members  of  the  league  agree  that  if 
there  should  arise  between  them  any  dis- 
pute likely  to  lead  to  a  rupture,  they  will 
submit  the  matter  either  to  arbitration  or 
to  inquiry  by  the  Council,  and  they  agree 
in  no  case  to  resort  to  war  until  three 
months  after  the  award  by  the  arbitratore 
or  the  report  by  the  Council. 

7 


In  any  case  under  this  article  the  awar<1 
of  the  arbitrators  shall  be  made  within  a 
reasonable  time,  and  the  report  of  the  Coun- 
cil shall  be  made  within  six  months  after  the 
submission  of  the  dispute. 

ARTICLE  XIII 

The  members  of  the  league  agree  that 
whenever  any  dispute  shall  arise  between 
them  which  they  recognize  to  be  suitable 
for  submission  to  arbitration  and  which  can- 
not be  satisfactorily  settled  by  diplomacy, 
they  will  submit  the  whole  subject  matter 
to  arbitration.  Disputes  as  to  the  interpre- 
tation of  a  treaty,  as  to  any  question  of  in- 
ternational law,  as  to  the  existence  of  any 
fact  which  if  established  would  constitute 
a  breach  of  any  international  obligation,  or 
as  to  the  extent  and  nature  of  the  repara- 
tion to  be  made  for  any  such  breach,  are  de- 
clared to  be  among  those  which  are  gen- 
erally suitable  for  submission  to  arbitration. 
For  the  consideration  of  any  such  dispute 
the  court  of  arbitration  to  which  the  case 
is  referred  shall  be  the  court  agreed  on 
by  the  parties  to  the  dispute  or  stipulated 
in  any  convention  existing  between  them. 

The  members  of  the  league  agree  that 
they  will  carry  out  in  full  good  faith  any 
award  that  may  be  rendered  and  that  they 
will  not  resort  to  war  against  a  member  of 
the  league  which  complies  therewith.  In 
the  event  of  any  failure  to  carry  out  such 
an  award,  the  Council  shall  propose  what 
steps  should  be  taken  to  give  effect  thereto. 

ARTICLE  XIV 

The  Council  shall  formulate  and  submit 
to  the  members  of  the  league  for  adoption 
plans  for  the  establishment  of  a  permanent 
Court  of  International  Justice.  The  court 
shall  be  competent  to  hear  and  determine 
any  dispute  of  an  international  character 
which  trre  parties  thereto  submit  to  it.  The 
court  may  also  give  an  advisory  opinion 
upon  any  dispute  or  question  referred  to  it 
by  the  Council  or  by  the  Assembly. 

ARTICLE  XV 

If  there  should  arise  between  members  of 
the  league  any  dispute  likely  to  lead  to  a 
rupture,  which  is  not  submitted  to  arbitra- 
tion as  above,  the  members  of  the  league 

8 


Agree  that  they  will  submit  the  matter  to 
the  Council.  Any  party  to  the  dispute  may 
effect  such  submission  by  giving  notice  of 
the  existence  of  the  dispute  to  the  Secre- 
tary General,  who  will  make  all  necessary 
arrangements  for  a  full  investigation  and 
consideration  thereof.  For  this  purpose  the 
parties  to  the  dispute  will  communicate  to 
the  Secretary  General,  as  promptly  as  pos- 
sible, statements  of  their  case,  all  the  rel- 
evant facts  and  papers ;  and  the  Council  may 
forthwith  direct  the  publication  thereof. 

The  Council  shall  endeavor  to  effect  a  set- 
tlement of  any  dispute,  and  if  such  efforts 
are  successful,  a  statement  shall  be  made 
public  giving  such  facts  and  explanations 
regarding  the  dispute  and  terms  of  settle- 
ment thereof  as  the  Council  may  deem  ap- 
propriate. 

If  the  dispute  is  not  thus  settled,  the 
Council  either  unanimously  or  by  a  majority 
yote  shall  make  and  publish  a  report  con- 
taining a  statement  of  the  facts  of  the  dis- 
pute and  the  recommendations  which  are 
deemed  just  and  proper  in  regard  thereto. 

Any  member  of  the  league  represented 
on  the  Council  may  make  public  a  statement 
of  the  facts  of  the  dispute  and  of  its  con- 
clusions regarding  the  same. 

If  a  report  by  the  Council  is  unanimously 
agreed  to  by  the  members  thereof,  other  than 
the  representatives  of  one  or  more  of  the 
parties  to  the  dispute,  the  members  of  the 
league  agree  that  they  will  not  go  to  war 
with  any  party  to  the  dispute  which  com- 
plies with  the  recommendations  of  the  report. 

If  the  Council  fails  to  reach  a  report 
which  is  unanimously  agreed  to  by  the 
members  thereof,  other  than  the  representa- 
tives of  one  or  more  of  the  parties  to  the 
dispute,  the  members  of  the  league  reserve 
to  themselves  the  right  to  take  such  action 
as  they  shall  consider  necessary  for  the 
maintenance  of  right  and  justice. 

If  the  dispute  between  the  parties  is 
claimed  by  one  of  them,  and  is  found  by  the 
Council  to  arise  out  of  a  matter  which  by 
international  law  is  solely  within  the  domes- 
tic jurisdiction  of  that  party,  the  Council 
shall  so  report,  and  shall  make  no  recom- 
mendation as  to  its  settlement. 

The  Council  may  in  any  case  under  this 
article  refer  the  dispute  to  the  Assembly. 
The  dispute  shall  be  so  referred  at  the  re- 


quest  of  either  party  of  the  dispute,  provided 
that  such  request  be  made  within  fourteen 
days  after  the  submission  of  the  dispute  to 
the  Council. 

In  any  case  referred  to  the  Assembly  all 
the  provisions  of  this  article  and  of  Article 
XII  relating  to  the  action  and  powers  of  the 
Council  shall  apply  to  the  action  and  pow- 
ers of  the  Assembly,  provided  that  a  report 
made  by  the  Assembly,  if  concurred  in  by 
the  representatives  of  those  members  of  the 
league  represented  on  the  Council  and  of  * 
majority  of  the  other  members  of  the  league, 
exclusive  in  each  case  of  the  representatives 
of  the  parties  to  the  dispute,  shall  have  the 
same  force  as  a  report  by  the  Council  con- 
curred in  by  all  the  members  thereof  other 
than  the  representatives  of  one  or  more  of 
the  parties  to  the  dispute. 

ARTICLE  XVI 

Should  any  member  of  the  league  resort 
to  war  in  disregard  of  its  covenants  under 
Article  XII,  XIII  or  XV,  it  shall  ipso  facto 
be  deemed  to  have  committed  an  act  of  war 
against  all  the  other  members  of  the  league, 
which  hereby  undertake  immediately  to  sub- 
ject it  to  the  severance  of  all  trade  or  finan- 
cial relations,  the  prohibition  of  all  inter- 
course between  their  nationals  and  the  na- 
tionals of  the  covenant-breaking  state  and 
the  prevention  of  all  financial,  commercial, 
or  personal  intercourse  between  the  na- 
tionals of  the  covenant-breaking  state  and 
the  nationals  of  any  other  state,  whether  a 
member  of  the  league  or  not. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Council  in  such 
case  to  recommend  to  the  several  Govern- 
ments concerned  what  effective  military  or 
naval  forces  the  members  of  the  league  shall 
severally  contribute  to  the  armaments  of 
forces  to  be  used  to  protect  the  covenants 
of  the  league. 

The  members  of  the  league  agree,  further, 
that  they  will  mutually  support  one  another 
in  the  financial  and  economic  measures 
which  are  taken  under  this  article,  in  order 
to  minimize  the  loss  and  inconvenience  re- 
sulting from  the  above  measures,  and  that 
they  will  mutually  support  one  another  in 
resisting  any  special  measures  aimed  at  one 
of  Hieir  number  by  the  covenant-breaking 
state,  and  that  they  will  take  the  necessary 

10 


steps  to  afford  passage  through  their  terri- 
tory to  the  forces  of  any  of  the  members 
of  the  league  which  are  co-operating  to  pro- 
tect the  covenants  of  the  league. 

Any  member  of  the  league  which  has  vio- 
lated any  covenant  of  the  league  may  be 
declared  to  be  no  longer  a  member  of  the 
league  by  a  vote  of  the  Council  concurred 
in  by  the  representatives  of  all  the  other 
members  of  the  league  represented  thereon 

ARTICLE  XVII 

In  the  event  of  a  dispute  between  a  mem- 
ber of  the  league  and  a  state  which  is  not 
a  member  of  the  league,  or  between  states 
not  members  of  the  league,  the  state  or 
states  not  members  of  the  league  shall  be 
invited  to  accept  the  obligations  of  mem- 
bership in  the  league  for  the  purposes  of 
such  dispute,  upon  such  conditions  as  the 
Council  may  deem  just.  If  such  invitation 
is  accepted,  the  provisions  of  Articles  XII 
to  XVI  inclusive  shall  be  applied  with  such 
modifications  as  may  be  deemed  necessary 
by  the  Council. 

Upon  such  invitation  being  given,  the 
Council  shall  immediately  institute  an  in- 
quiry into  the  circumstances  of  the  dispute 
and  recommend  such  action  as  may  seem 
best  and  most  effectual  in  the  circumstances. 

If  a  state  so  invited  shall  refuse  to  accept 
the  obligations  of  membership  in  the  league 
for  the  purposes  of  such  dispute,  and  shall 
resort  to  war  against  a  member  of  the 
league,  the  provisions  of  Article  XVI  shall 
be  applicable  as  against  the  state  taking 
such  action. 

If  both  parties  to  the  dispute,  when  so 
invited,  refuse  to  accept  the  obligations  of 
membership  in  the  league  for  the  purposes 
of  such  dispute,  the  Council  may  take  such 
measures  and  make  such  recommendation? 
as  will  prevent  hostilities  and  will  result  it? 
the  settlement  of  the  dispute. 

ARTICLE  XVIII 

Every  convention  or  international  engage- 
ment entered  into  henceforward  by  any 
member  of  the  league  shall  be  forthwith 
registered  with  the  Secretariat  and  shall  as 
soon  as  possible  be  published  by  it.  No  such 
treaty  or  international  engagement  shall  be 
binding  until  so  registered. 

11 


ARTICLE  XIX 

The  Assembly  may  from  time  to  time  ad- 
rise  the  reconsideration  by  members  of  the 
league  of  treaties  which  have  become  inap- 
plicable, and  the  consideration  of  interna- 
tional conditions  whose  continuance  might 
endanger  the  peace  of  the  world. 

ARTICLE  XX 

The  members  of  the  league  severally  agree 
that  this  covenant  is  accepted  as  abrogating 
all  obligations  or  understandings  inter  se 
vrhich  are  inconsistent  with  the  terms  there- 
of, and  solemnly  undertake  that  they  will 
not  hereafter  enter  into  any  engagements  in- 
consistent with  the  terms  thereof. 

In  case  members  of  the  league  shall,  be- 
fore becoming  a  member  of  the  league,  have 
undertaken  any  obligations  inconsistent 
with  the  terms  of  this  covenant,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  such  member  to  take  imme- 
diate steps  to  procure  its  release  from  such 
obligations. 

ARTICLE  XXI 

Nothing  in  this  covenant  shall  be  deemed 
to  affect  the  validity  of  international  en- 
gagements such  as  treaties  of  arbitration  or 
regional  understandings  like  the  Monroe 
Doctrine  for  securing  the  maintenance  of 
peace. 

ARTICLE  XXII 

To  those  colonies  and  territories  which 
as  a  consequence  of  the  late  war  have  ceased 
to  be  under  the  sovereignty  of  the  states 
which  formerly  governed  them  and  which 
are  inhabited  by  peoples  not  yet  able  to 
stand  by  themselves  under  the  strenuous 
conditions  of  the  modern  world,  there  should 
be  applied  the  principle  that  the  well  being 
and  development  of  such  peoples  form  a 
sacred  trust  of  civilization  and  that  securi- 
ties for  the  performance  of  this  trust  should 
be  embodied  in  this  covenant. 

The  best  method  of  giving  practicable  ef- 
fect to  this  principle  is  that  the  tutelage  of 
such  peoples  be  intrusted  to  advanced  na- 
tions who,  by  reasons  of  their  resources, 
their  experience  or  their  geographical  posi- 
tion, can  best  undertake  this  responsibility, 

12 


and  who  are  willing  to  accept  it,  and  that 
this  tutelage  should  be  exercised  by  them 
as  mandataries  on  behalf  of  the  league. 

The  character  of  the  mandate  must  differ 
according  to  the  stage  of  the  development 
A  the  people,  the  geographical  situation  of 
the  territory,  its  economic  condition  and 
'/trier  similar  circumstances. 

Certain  communities  formerly  belonging 
to  the  Turkish  Empire  have  reached  a  stage 
of  development  where  their  existence  as  in- 
dependent nations  can  be  provisionally  rec- 
ognized, subject  to  the  rendering  of  admin- 
istrative advice  and  assistance  by  a  manda- 
tary until  such  time  as  they  are  able  to 
stand  alone.  The  wishes  of  these  communi- 
ties must  be  a  principal  consideration  in  the 
selection  of  the  mandatary. 

Other  peoples,  especially  those  of  Central 
Africa,  are  at  such  a  stage  that  the  man- 
datary must  be  responsible  for  the  admin- 
istration of  the  territory  under  conditions 
which  will  guarantee  freedom  of  conscience 
or  religion  subject  only  to  the  maintenance 
of  public  order  and  morals,  the  prohibition 
of  abuses,  such  as  the  slave  trade,  the  arms 
traffic  and  the  liquor  traffic  and  the  preven- 
tion of  the  establishment  of  fortifications  or 
military  and  naval  bases  and  of  military 
training  of  the  natives  for  other  than  police 
purposes  and  the  defense  of  territory  and 
will  also  secure  equal  opportunities  for  the 
trade  and  commerce  of  other  members  of 
the  league. 

There  are  territories,  such  as  Southwest 
Africa  and  certain  of  the  South  Pacific 
Islands,  which,  owing  to  the  sparseness  of 
their  population  or  their  small  size  or  their 
remoteness  from  the  centres  of  civilization 
or  their  geographical  contiguity  to  the  ter- 
ritory of  the  mandatary  and  other  circum- 
stances, can  be  best  administered  under  the 
laws  of  the  mandatary  as  integral  portions 
of  its  territory,  subject  to  the  safeguards 
above  mentioned  in  the  interests  of  the  in- 
digenous population.  In  every  case  of  man- 
date, the  mandatary  shall  render  to  the 
Council  an  annual  report  in  reference  to  the 
territory  committed  to  its  charge. 

The  degree  of  authority,  control  or  ad- 
ministration to  be  exercised  by  the  manda- 
tary shall,  if  not  previously  agreed  upon  by 
the  members  of  the  league,  be  explicitly  de- 
fined in  each  case  by  the  Council. 

13 


A  permanent  commission  shall  be  consti- 
tuted to  receive  and  examine  the  annual  re- 
ports of  the  mandataries  and  to  advise  the 
Council  on  all  matters  relating  to  the  ob- 
servance of  the  mandates. 

ARTICLE  XXIII 

Subject  to  and  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions  of  international  conventions  ex- 
isting or  hereafter  to  be  agreed  upon,  the 
members  of  the  league  (a)  will  endeavor  to 
secure  and  maintain  fair  and  humane  con- 
ditions of  labor  for  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren both  in  their  own  countries  and  in  all 
countries  to  which  their  commercial  and  in- 
dustrial relations  extend,  and  for  that  pur- 
pose will  establish  and  maintain  the  neces- 
sary international  organizations;  (b)  under- 
take to  secure  just  treatment  of  the  native 
inhabitants  of  territories  under  their  con- 
trol ;  (c)  will  intrust  the  league  with  the 
general  supervision  over  the  execution  of 
agreements  with  regard  to  the  traffic  in 
women  and  children,  and  the  traffic  in  opium 
and  other  dangerous  drugs ;  (d)  will  intrust 
the  league  with  the  general  supervision  of 
the  trade  in  arms  and  ammunition  with  the 
countries  in  which  the  control  of  this  traf- 
fic is  necessary  in  the  common  interest ;  (e) 
will  make  provision  to  secure  and  maintain 
freedom  of  communication  and  of  transit 
and  equitable  treatment  for  the  commerce 
of  all  members  of  the  league.  In  this  con- 
nection the  special  necessities  of  the  regions 
devastated  during  the  war  of  1914-1918  shall 
be  in  mind ;  (f)  will  endeavor  to  take  steps 
in  matters  of  international  concern  for  the 
prevention  and  control  of  disease. 

ARTICLE  XXIV 

There  shall  be  placed  under  the  direction 
of  the  league  all  international  bureaus  al- 
ready established  by  general  treaties  if  the 
parties  to  such  treaties  consent.  All  such 
international  bureaus  and  all  commission* 
for  the  regulation  of  matters  of  international 
interest  hereafter  constituted  shall  be  placed 
under  the  direction  of  the  league. 

In  all  matters  of  international  interest 
which  are  regulated  by  general  conventions 
but  which  are  not  placed  under  the  control 
of  international  bureaus  or  commissions,  the 
Secretariat  of  the  league  shall,  subject  to 

14 


the  consent  of  the  Council  and  if  desired 
by  the  parties,  collect  and  distribute  all 
relevant  information,  and  shall  render  any 
other  assistance  which  may  be  necessary  or 
desirable. 

The  Council  may  include  as  part  of  the 
expenses  of  the  Secretariat  the  expenses  of 
any  bureau  or  commission  which  is  placed 
under  the  direction  of  the  league. 

ARTICLE  XXV 

The  members  of  the  league  agree  to  en- 
courage and  promote  the  establishment  and 
co-operation  of  duly  authorized  voluntary 
national  Red  Cross  organizations  having 
as  purposes  improvement  of  health,  the  pre- 
vention of  disease  and  the  mitigation  of  suf- 
fering throughout  the  world. 

ARTICLE  XXVI 

Amendments  to  this  covenant  will  take 
effect  when  ratified  by  the  members  of  the 
league  whose  representatives  compose  the 
Council  and  by  a  majority  of  the  members 
of  the  league  whose  representatives  compose 
the  Assembly. 

No  such  amendment  shall  bind  any  mem- 
ber of  the  League  which  signifies  its  dissent 
therefrom,  but  in  that  case  if  shall  cease  to  be 
a  member  of  the  League. 

ANNEX  TO  THE  COVENANT 

One.  Original  members  of  the  League  of 
Nations. 

Signatories  of  the  Treaty  of  Peace. 

United  States  of  America,  Belgium,  Bolivia, 
Brazil,  British  Empire,  Canada,  Australia, 
South  Africa,  New  Zealand,  India,  China, 
Cuba,  Czecho-Slovakia,  Ecuador,  France, 
Greece,  Guatemala,  Haiti,  Hedjaz,  Honduras, 
Italy,  Japan,  Liberia,  Nicaragua,  Panama, 
Peru,  Poland,  Portugal,  Rumania,  Serbia, 
Siam,  Uruguay. 

States  invited  to  accede  to  the  covenant. 

Argentine  Republic,  Chile,  Colombia,  Den- 
mark, Netherlands,  Norway,  Paraguay,  Per- 
sia, Salvador,  Spain,  Sweden,  Switzerland, 
Venezuela. 

Two.  First  Secretary  General  of  th* 
League  of  Nations. 


15 


UC  SOUTHERN  R 


000  959  951     5 


LIBRARY 
PUBLIC  AFFAIRS  SERVICE 

SEP  0  7  1990 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
LOS  ANGELES 


